July 3, 2013

COLUMBIA CITY â€” Whitley County government leaders were hit with a very expensive surprise this week.

Surprise was the word used by Sheriff Mark Hodges to describe the need to purchase new equipment for the county dispatch center. New computers and software, along with accompanying equipment, were on the list.

â€śThis is a financial bombshell that took me by surprise,â€ť Hodges said.

Adam Hurley, a representative with J&K Communications, was with the sheriff at Mondayâ€™s commissioner meeting and Tuesdayâ€™s county council meeting. Hurley said the dispatch computers use Microsoft XP, which is no longer supported.

â€śEverything is now on Windows 7 (operating system),â€ť he said.

There were two prices submitted by J&K. The first, at approximately $83,000, was to move all dispatch computers to Windows 7. The other total was approximately $266,000 and includes new equipment, since the current county dispatch computers are eight years old.

â€śI donâ€™t want to spend $80,000 and then come back and do $266,000,â€ť said Commissioner Don Amber.

He was not alone in that sentiment.

To read the rest of this story, see the July 3-4 issue of The Post and Mail. Don't have a subscription? Call (260) 244-5153 or subscribe to our e-edition. For breaking news, sports updates and additional coverage, bookmark the homepage and find us on facebook and twitter.